2010 NFL Combine: Five Prospects Feeling the Heat

Is the NFL Combine a fraud or is it a legitimate talent evaluator? That’s the question NFL teams, scouts, owners, and fans have been asking themselves forever.

Can you spot the studs from the duds?

And what should I be looking for when guys are running around in their underwear anyway?

Of course scouts, coaches, and general managers want to see the measurables of every player: that means doing some serious running, jumping, and strength tests.

Then when it's all said and done, we’ve found the ultimate workout warrior, right?

But if I’m an NFL scout, I want to find the next Peyton Manning not the next Tony Mandarich.

And that’s why it’s a shame that Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen, and Tim Tebow won’t be throwing this week.

We’ll have to wait for their collective pro days to see if the glorified arms and supposed new mechanics of Tebow can someday be strong enough to hoist a Lombardi Trophy.

Even then, what will that tell us?

Draft expert Mel Kiper says as overrated as some of these exercises may seem, they serve a vital part to the draft and players couldn’t be properly evaluated without it.

Duh…

Okay, so how do you measure heart and toughness?

And that's the $70 million question (insert JaMarcus Russell joke here...), that every GM will ponder inside the confines of Lucas Oil Stadium. With jobs and wealth on the line, here are the top five most scrutinized prospects working out at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine.

Ndamukong Suh

My name is Suh, how do you do? The Nebraska All-American and consensus No. 1 pick in the draft will workout because he has nothing to hide, and furthermore, he wants you all to know that.

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock is one of the few analysts that rates Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy ahead of Suh. But Mayock says that’s because he feels McCoy is better against the pass than his Cornhusker counterpart.

Regardless, the Rams are on the clock and should take Suh with confidence.

Dez Bryant

Some scouts say he’s another Andre Johnson. Maybe he’s just another Michael Crabtree, which isn't all that bad if you can tolerate his massive ego.

Bryant has the size and speed that offenses covet, but he’s also got a bad history.

Since Bryant sat out most of last season at Oklahoma State, he still needs to impress scouts one more time. Bryant could go as high as No. 5 to the Chiefs or fall to the Broncos at 11.

Toby Gerhart

After CJ Spiller, is Gerhart the next best bet at running back? Several teams should be interested in the Stanford product, especially if he runs well in the 40.

Gerhart would be a good fit in San Diego, Seattle, Houston, NY Giants, and New England.

Tim Tebow

With Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen not working out at the Combine, all eyes will be on Tebow and Colt McCoy. Both could help their cause with stellar performances, but they could also hurt their stock just as easily.

Tebow is attempting to correct a disastrous Senior Bowl performance as he works on developing a pro-style delivery to his throwing motion. Still, he may be getting a good look as an H-back—whether he knows it or not.

Expect Tebow to be taken somewhere around the third or fourth round.

Eric Berry

All of the comparisons to Ed Reed have to make you wonder if the kid can live up to the hype.

Kiper says that Berry is smaller than your average NFL safety and that could lead to durability issues down the road. But if the 6'1" safety grades out well, then he should be a top five selection, no questions asked.